Unaccompanied minors in Bremen - A case study on how empowerment is implemented in the work with young refugees in Bremen

Sammanfattning: The number of people escaping from wars and conflicts to European welfare states is increasing. Many of them are children; some come as unaccompanied minors (UMs), fleeing without parents or any other responsible family member, entering and living in the country of refuge on their own. The “United Nations” (UN) and its “Convention on the Rights of the Child” from 1989 secures them special protection in any country of refuge. How does Germany and in particular the federal city state of Bremen support UMs? This case study investigates policies and practices for UMs in Bremen and applies empowerment theory. Accordingly, the focus of the thesis will be on the policy-implementation of empowerment-based goals. Withal, empowerment is understood as participation. How do stakeholders in fact participate UMs? The research retrieves qualitative evidence from semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in Bremen. Findings demonstrate a discrepancy between the obligation to participate and its implementation.